An Event and Adjustment: Racial equity and a moment for grief

This past week has been full of grief.

We grieve the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. We grieve the violence committed against Black communities for centuries. We grieve the destruction of property and attacks on innocents in our cities. We grieve the incredible loss of life and livelihood from the pandemic. And we grieve for all those living in systems of injustice, oppression, and insecurity across the world, especially the most vulnerable.

Despite our grief, we know that we have agency. That we are responsible. That a better world, in which we all flourish regardless of our backgrounds, is possible. If and only if we claim the courage to relentlessly wage peace, justice will one day roll down like waters.

Yet in this moment of grief, we need to pause and adjust our scheduled programming. We will postpone the annexation webinar and Friday’s Happy Hour. Instead, we’re working on creating and curating a set of resources. To process. To learn. To grapple with tough questions. To reflect on where we fit in. And most of all, to recommit ourselves to being the peacemakers our nation and this world need right now.

Please join us with Telos alums and partners, Ainka Sanders Jackson, Executive Director of the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation and David M. Bailey, founder of Arrabon, for a conversation this Thursday, June 4th at 4 PM EDT about how we as individuals and as a community can enter this moment with integrity and a credible vision for healing. RSVP to the event here.

We will be announcing other opportunities shortly. In the meantime, we encourage you to review the following resources and send us your questions/ideas on what it means to be a peacemaker in this moment.

Sincerely,
The Telos Team

Resources to Review

Central Church Pastor and Telos alum Jon Moton shares his thoughts with the Church and gives helpful recommendations for how to respond to this moment.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture released a comprehensive online portal called Talking About Race. Take some time to explore the portal.

President Obama penned a reflection on how to turn this moment the turning point for real change.

Urban Doxology, a musical group and ministry of Telos partner Arrabon, released a song of lament based on Psalm 10.